USA > Nebraska > Hall County > History of Hall County, Nebraska > Part 18
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Protection Hose Company No. 2 completed organization in June 1886 with E. C. McCash- land, president; W. F. Mclaughlin, foreman ; C. Milisen, secretary ; S. Elliott, treasurer ; E. Dawson, George Hunter and G. H. Geddes, trustees. In March, 1887, H. C. Miller was chosen president of the fire department ; John A. Matthews, chief; William McLaughlin, assistant ; John Voitle, second assistant ; J. W. Bartholomew, secretary; Charles Haux and David Zink, treasurer. In 1890, W. R. Mc- Allister was president ; D. C. Zink, secretary ; J. A. Matthews, chief.
Pacific Hose Co. No. 1 was presided over by George Furstenhofer; Ott's Hose Co. No.' 3 and Alexander Hose Co. No. 4 were organ- ized later.
Following the first "big fire" related in the chapter on pioneers of the first colony as hav- ing swept the old settlement in the late 'fifties, the next big fire was that of Engel & Sieg- mund's pearl barley mill, destroyed in 1876. The mill had been erected only a year pre- viously at a cost of $5,000. With the excep- tion of the Union Pacific water tank structure, this was the first conflagration since the town was founded in 1866. An attempt to burn West's store and the Grange Hall was pre-
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
vented by James Cleary. In December, 1884, there was a fire in the Cleary and Grand Island Banking Company buildings that but for the thorough work of the department would have destroyed those blocks. Schaupp's mill was burned to the ground in 1886. This fire, one of the largest in the town's history, destroyed a three-story roller patent mills and a five story elevator. Wilsey's barn and five blooded horses were destroyed in 1887. Rol- lin's feed mill was destroyed in 1888. The Burning of the Sass hotel (known as the Wyoming house) was another big fire. In more recent years the fire at the Martin store, with damages of $30,000, the destruction of the old State Central and later Grand Island
SECOND STREET, GRAND ISLAND
Brewery and the total loss of the Pacific Hotel were the most extensive conflagrations. In 1910 the Nebraska Mercantile fire was a cause of enormous loss.
PAVING
Grand Island has acquired a goodly number . of miles of paving in recent years. Probably more impressive and enlightening for future comparison than a mere statement of number of miles would be a brief outline of the pres- ent paved districts of the city, in 1919.
Practically all of the streets of the business district are paved. On the south side, Third street is paved from Kimball west about a mile from Locust; Second, with the seedling mile coming in from the east, is paved from the Burlington tracks subway on the east, westward about a mile or so from Locust street ; First is paved from Sycamore to the west end of the residence district; Division, form Locust to the west end of the residence
district; and Koenig is just being completed through the western residence district. This gives five streets through the west residence districts, with agitation under way on streets farther south. Locating the new junior high school on Charles street will no doubt hasten along the addition of another east and west paved street. North and South, on the south side of town, Pine, Locust, and Wheeler are paved through the business district, and Wal- nut some. Numerous cross streets in the west part of town are either paved or districts in process of formation. On the north side of town Pine and Walnut have paving up to Tenth, and Tenth is paved across from Plum to Eddy. Now paving is under way or dis- tricts are being formed on Eddy and on Ninth and Sycamore is about to be formed into a district. Another few years will find material additions to the list sketched above.
SEWERS
The city's present storm sewer and entire sewerage system has proved sufficiently inade- quate that the voters on July 2, 1919, voted $200,000 to begin a program of construction of several main sewers, with a labyrinth of laterals, which when completed will render sewerage available to practically every lot now within the city limits and to a number of pros- pective additions that may be added to the city within the next few years.
LIGHTING PLANTS
The Gas and Electric Light Company was organized in July, 1884, with George H. Thum- mel, president ; H. A. Koenig, vice-president ; Dr. M. J. Gahan, secretary ; and Chris Was- mer, treasurer. In 1889, Henry Miller was superintendent.
The Grand Island Gas Company was incor- porated March 21, 1887, with A. S. Maxwell. Samuel N. Wolbach and John L. Means as stockholders, and Mr. Maxwell, as managing director.
H. G. Leavitt, of Ames, Nebraska, became main owner in this plant.
The Grand Island Light And Power Com- pany was established in 1895. It built a plant with a capacity of furnishing 900 incan-
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
descent lights and thirty arc lights, and before the end of 1897 had to extend its facilities.
The Grand Island Light and Fuel Co. was a manufacturer of gas. This plant was estab- lished prior to 1890, and was built at the foot of East Third street.
GRAND ISLAND ELECTRIC COMPANY
The Grand Island Electric Co. was organ- ized in September, 1905, with B. E. Sunny, of Chicago, Illinois, as president ; T. H. Fritts, of Grand Island, as secretary-treasurer and general manager; and with directors as fol- lows: B. E. Sunny, George P. Townsend, A. Burt, A. D. Fonger, A. L. Munroe, of Chicago, and T. H. Fritts and W. H. Thompson of Grand Island. In 1905 the plant had a capa- city of 150 K. M. or 200 horse power. In 1915 the company had developed a plant with 625 KVA capacity, or 833 horse power.
CENTRAL POWER COMPANY
The Central Power Company was organized in July, 1915 with B. E. Sunny president ; T. H. Fritts, vice-president and treasurer ; W. H. Weston, secretary ; directors Frank J. Baker, Edward J. Doyle, Louis A. Fergusen, William A. Fox, John F. Gilchrest, John H. Gulick, Martin J. Insull, Samuel Insull, Chas. A. Mun- roe, L. E. Meyers, F. S. Peabody. Edward P. Russell, Marshall E. Sampsell, Frederick Sargent and H. L. Stewart, all of Chicago.
During the year of 1916 the Boelus Hydro plant was developed. This is the leading water power plant of Nebraska and has harnessed the waters of the Loup River a few miles west and north of the northwest corner of Hall County and made it possible for the Central Power company with that plant and their re- serve plant at Grand Island to become the distributing center of light, current, and power for a great many towns throughout central Nebraska. The capacity in steam and hydro generating plants is 5,133 KVA or 6,844 horse power, or eight times the capacity when the Central Power Company succeeded the Grand Island Electric Company.
From a production of 2,178,485 kilowatt hours in 1915 the annual output has grown until in 1918 it was 7,446,320 K. W. H. and
will approximate 8,935,000 K. W. H. for 1919. The company now has 200 miles of high ten- sion transmission lines in operation. The fol- lowing towns are now served from this com- pany's plants : Clarks, Central City, Chapman, Grand Island, Doniphan, Alda, Wood River, Shelton, Gibbon, Kearney, Odessa, Abbott, Cairo, Boelus, Danneborg, St. Paul, and also
CENTRAL POWER COMPANY PLANT
wholesale to C. G. & E. Co. for 25 towns, and serving a population of over 50,000, in- cluding Y. G. & E. Co.
WATERWORKS AND MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT
Practically forty years ago Grand Island voted bonds and took steps to secure a munici- pal water plant. She was perhaps one of the first cities in the state to make this progressive move. At first fire protection was the impel- ling motive; the necessity of flushing sewers followed, and later the system was tapped for domestic purposes and for the use of the Union Pacific shops. Eventually industrial and manufacturing plants multiplied and uses have piled up one after another, until the plant is an all essential institution.
About ten years ago many citizens became dissatisfied with the existing situation relative
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to secure electric lighting service, and $35,000 bonds were voted to extend the activities and equipment of the municipal water plant to in- clude a municipal electric plant. The bonded indebtness, outstanding warrants, taxes, inter- est, and surplus, the items making up the liabilities, for the electric plant on May 1, 1909, were $57,097.21 ; the assets balancing with the same total; for the water plant, the liabilities and assets shown were $102,348.95.
without much delay. A few have to be prodded by the treasurer or by the police before they will dig. Others may find their places of busi- ness closed if they don't "come across."
The business occupation tax is one of many. It must be paid by non-resident corporations, such as the Western Union, the express com- pany, the Standard Oil, etc., and also is paid by places of amusements, such as theaters. The amount of this tax varies from $10 to $50 per
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MUNICIPAL WATER AND LIGHT PLANT
SOURCES OF REVENUE AND TAXATION
Something of the magnitude of the city's business and the amount of property now be- longing to the city, as well as the multiplicity of burdens resting upon a city administration and the numerous sources of revenue at the city's command may be gained from some comparisons and statements published in the Independent, July 19, 1919:
Just at present time City Treasurer W. R. King is finding money on all sides. There are numerous taxes which must be paid by resi- dents of Grand Island, in common with the residents of other cities. Most of those who owe taxes are paying without complaint or
year. All of these taxes are now paid with the exception of the tax due from one theatre. Twelve amusement taxes have been received.
The pool hall man pays a tax into the same business occupation fund, but under a differ- ent ordinance. Bowling alley owners pay un- der this second ordinance also. Fourteen of these have paid their taxes and only one man is delinquent. Unless the tax is paid the police will close up the place of business. The tax amounts to $10 a table or per bowling alley. One place has nine tables and three bowling alleys, and thus pays a tax of $120, which is the highest amount to be paid by any one such business house.
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The dog tax is another one in which the city treasurer has an interest. More than 300 such taxes have been paid, which is about the same number as paid last year. According to this there are only 300 and some dogs in the city. Complaints received by the police at times from people who say they are kept awake or otherwise annoyed by canines, indi- cate that these 300 dogs travel in a body and visit various neighborhoods which have no legal right to be in the community.
Other licenses include that for peddlers, such as that paid by a stranger who disposed of large quantities of razors and combs on a down town street corner the other day at a price around one dollar.
The circus license is another one which goes into the city treasury. The Yankee Robinson circus which is to be here this month, has paid a tax of $75 to Mr King. - The tax is based on the number of cars used by the circus. The size of this tax shows the circus has more than 20 railroad cars and less than 30 cars.
The new state law fixes a tobacco tax of $15, which is payable to the city clerk, not the city treasurer immediately.
Mr. King heard of a new tax on Friday when a man called and wanted to pay a milk tax of $1 a year. He told the treasurer this tax goes into effect soon. Mr. King de- clined to accept the money much to the visitor's disappointment, as the treasurer said he had received no instruction to collect a milk tax and was not authorized to receive the money or issue a receipt.
In addition the city treasurer collects large sums in the way of special assessments for paving, sewers and so forth.
From Daily Independent, August 7, 1919: A good sized jump in the city tax levy for the new fiscal year beginning the second Mon- day in August was decided on when the coun- cil last night passed the appropriation and tax levy ordinances. The total appropriation voted on is $195,858 as compared with $151,670 the past year, or an increase of $44,- 288. The total tax levy is 46 mills against 34 mills last year, or an increase of 12 mills.
A few days ago an estimate as to the total
tax levy on the city property was published. It was 103 mills. The estimate may be changed now with the following items: City levy, 46 mills ; school levy 45 mills ; state levy, 13 mills ; county levy, 9 mills (estimated) ; total levy on city property, 113 mills.
The following table shows the appropria- tions as provided in the ordinances of last . year and this year, in comparison :
1918
1919
Sinking fund and interest. . $ 9,570 $ 20,867
City salaries
4,700
5,200
Streets, alleys
12,000
13,000
Sewers
6,000
12,000
Street lighting
10,000
10,000
Incidentals
5,000
7,000
Parks
1,000
800
Police
11,000
12,716
Fire department
13,700
15,225
Street intersection
19,500
29,000
Library
3,000
2,900
Cemetery
3,700
4,650
Band
2,500
2,500
Water Works
50,000
50,000
Totals
$151,670 $195,858
So far as the water works appropriation is concerned, it should be mentioned that the $50,000 put down is meant only to keep the city books straight. The sum appropriated to be raised by a tax is only $5,480, the same as last year. The rest of the amount comes from the receipts of the city plant.
The city tax rate of Grand Island is the lowest among twenty cities and towns of Ne- braska. The total tax paid by a resident of this city for all purposes is so low that only one of these twenty cities has a lesser rate. Only two of the twenty cities have a lower school levy.
These pleasant facts have been learned by County Treasurer Neumann after making in- quiries in other counties. Mr. Neumann thought he would like to make a comparison of rates so as to have facts at hand to meet some of the chronic kickers who growl about their taxes every time tax paying time ap- proaches.
The replies he received show that residents of this community may add one more item to the list of home-grown articles concerning
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA .
which they may boast when "out among 'em." for instance:
"Hullo, pardner. Where you from?"
"Grand Island."
"Watcha got there?"
"Well, just to sorta glance at things, we got one of the biggest beet sugar factories in the country, the livest Commercial Club a- going, the finest Elks temple in the state, the best auditorium for any city of its size, a people that has met every war quota, one of the most modern collections of Union Pacific buildings on the system, a bunch of horse barns that would make your eyes stand out,
CITY LIBRARY
the Lincoln Highway, the S. Y. A. road, the Grainland route, and another highway in pro- ject, two of the grandest little railroad systems in the United States, the most active demand for houses to be found anywhere, a Soldiers and Sailors Home colony, a Country Club with eighty acres of club land, some of the most sizeable ranches in Nebraska, the best little automobile and style show you ever saw, the lowest fire loss record you can imagine, ten miles of paving and more started, scores of beautiful homes, a neat assortment of mer- cantile establishments and wholesale houses, a grand market center for farm products, the lowest tax rate in the state, and -. "
"Halt! That's enough. What's the fare to Grand Island? I'm going that way."
The total tax levy imposed on a resident of Grand Island is 88 mills. Out of twenty cities only one has a rate as low or lower and that is Seward with 86 5 mills. The levy for city purposes is 34 mills which is the lowest of any
of the twenty cities. The school levy is 37 mills and only Omaha and Seward have lower levies for that purpose. The state and county levy is 17 mills which is the same as that in Hastings, while four places, Seward, York, Wymore and Beatrice, have lower state and county levies.
The folowing table shows the tax levy com- parison plainly :
TOWN
State &
County
School
~City
Total
McCook
22
47
37
106
Holdrege
18
39
35
92
Fremont
21
40
50
111
Beatrice
16.6
44
51
111.6
Wymore
16.6
51
60.5
128.1 104.78
Lexington
22.68
51
44
117.68
York
15
56
46.5
117.5
Seward
16
35
35.5
86.5
Nebraska City .. 26.4
55
48
129.4
Hastings
17
60
43
120
Lincoln
17.2
48
37
102.2
Alliance
25
50
62.5
137.5
North Platte
22.68
47
41
110.68
Plattsmouth
22
55
63
140
Gering
27.68
70
71
168 68
Scottsbluff
27.68
69
71
167.68
Omaha
.23.73
35
42
100.72
Norfolk
.22.68
49.5
63.5
135.68
Grand Island
17
37
34
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THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
One of the institutions to which Grand Island can point with pride is her City Library. In the early 'eighties the library sprang up, a rather meagre affair, promoted by private interest. In 1884 a board ap- pointed by the city took charge and the service and equipment were gradually improved from year to year. The old library was located on East Third for many years, at one time in the Scarff building. It was then located in the City Hall until its splendid home at Second and Walnut was completed in 1905.
The presidents of the Library Board have been: From 1884 until 1898, Charles F. Bentley ; his successor was Prof. R. J. Barr, and after him, Henry S. Ferrar served for about five years ; in 1905, Mrs. O. A. Abbott. Sr., became president, and she has devoted
1
Kearney
17.18
50
37.6
.-
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
her time and energies very liberally to that years; Mrs. Geo. Everett was a member from position for the past fourteen years. Mrs. Abbott had served as vice-president of the Board for several years before she took the chairmanship.
Nathan Platte served as secretary of the Board for a good many years, until his death in 1897; John F. Matthews then took that work for a couple years, then Bayard H. Paine served for five years, during the strenu- ous two or three years when the Board was accepting Mr. Carnegie's generous offer made in 1902, securing a site and an architect, letting the contract and waiting for the con- struction of their building; Prof. J. F. Mat- thews, two years; Prof. D. A. Trivelpiece, five years and Mrs. J. A. Costello for the last six years have been the succeeding secretaries.
The longest term of service on this Board has been that of Mrs. O. A. Abbott, who has served continuously since the institution of the Board in 1884, a service of thirty-five years. Other rather long terms of service for such a board have been those of Chas. F. Bentley, from 1884 to 1898, and after a lapse of one year, in which the Bentley family did not assist on the Board, Mrs. Charles F. Bent- ley became a member and served for eleven years, until May 1, 1911, when death robbed the Board of this helpful and sincere member. Bayard H. Paine served from 1899 until 1904 and after an absence of one term returned to the Board in 1907 and served another twelve years, until 1919, making seventeen years serv- ice on this Board, during a part of which time he was secretary.
Nathan Platt served from 1885 until his death in 1897, making twelve years, during practically all of which time he was secretary of the Board. Mrs. T. O .C. Harrison served from 1884 until 1899, fifteen years. Recently after the death of her husband, Judge T. O. C. Harrison, who left her with a large library she did not sacrifice many volumes to a sale that would net less than their worth, but donated a goodly number of them to the library. Geo. B. Bell served from 1887 to 1899, a twelve year period; Dr. H. D. Boyden was a member from 1884 until 1897, thirteen
1884 until 1888 and again from 1895 to 1898, seven years total service ; Mrs. R. C. Glanville served from 1891 to 1900, or nine years; others who served two or three terms in the earlier history of the Board were D. H. Van- tine, 1887 to 1895; Geo. H. Thummel, 1889 to 1897 ..
Of the first board, Messrs. Bentley," and Dr. Boyden have been mentioned, also Mrs. Abbott, Mrs. Harrison, and Mrs. Everett, the other members were H. O. Brown, who served one year, and H. E. Clifford finished his term ; W. H. Michael and J. P. Kernohan, who each served three years, and Mr. Sharp who served one year. Chas. Rief and Mrs. E. B. Smith each served a short time on the Board during the late 'eighties.
In 1897 several new members came onto the Board. Rev. Jorden served a short time; Rev. T. C. Clark served from 1897 until 1905. J. F. Matthews served for nine years, until 1906. In 1899 three new members came on: Judge John R. Thompson, who served until 1905, six years ; Henry S. Ferrar, who served the same period of six years; and Judge J. H. Mullin, who served also the same six years. Geo. H. Sands came on in 1904 and served one three year term; C. J. Pope likewise came on in 1903 and served one three year term. E. J. Hatch served from 1901 to 1904, during the latter part of which time he was secretary. C. H. Tully came on in 1904 and has been a member continuously since that time, a service of fifteen years ; Mr. Hehnke served one term ; I. T. Benjamin served from 1907 until 1914; Ralph R. Horth from 1906 to 1909, and S. D. Kelley served from 1906 to 1911, resigning upon May 1, 1911, after he had rendered valu- able service as chairman of the building com- mittee ; J. W. Rose served from 1909 until he resigned on March 23, 1914, when he left the city. Prof. D. A. Trivelpiece served from 1906 to 1911, and Mr. Hanna has served one year, in 1905-6, the first year of the term in which Mr. Trivelpiece came onto the Board.
This brings us down to the recent members. Mrs. Abbott, Judge Paine and Mr. Tully have been mentioned. Since 1915 these three have
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
had practically the same six associates. Mrs. first assistant was Miss Alma Etting, and S. D. Ross came on in 1914 and has served Mrs. J. A. Costello was second assistant; in recent years Mrs. Costello has been first as- sistant and secretary of the Board. 'since then; Rev. T. A. Dungan came on in 1915 to remain until this time; Dr. George Sutherland came on in 1913 and stayed until The library contains many thousands of volumes and carries several hundred period- icals, papers, and reference works. 1918 when Peter Nelson served one year; Rev. L. A. Arthur came on back in 1907 and has served twelve years. Mrs. F. W. Ashton came on to the Board in 1911 and has served STREET RAILWAY SYSTEM . for eight years now, and Mrs. J. L. Cleary came on in 1910 and has served nine years. In 1919 under the new law the Board was reappointed with five members, and these are
Grand Island has never reached the pro- portions where it could maintain an electric street car system, but thirty years ago had a good horse and mule-car street car system in
VIEW OF GRAND ISLAND ABOUT 1890, SHOWING STREET RAILWAY SYSTEM
Mrs. Abbott, Rev. Arthur, Mrs. Ashton, Rev. Dungan and C. H. Tully.
LIBRARIANS
A contract was made with C. D. Irvine about 1888 for quarters for the library and he acted as librarian for a short time. For seven years Mrs. Mary Irvine held this posi- tion, and upon her resignation, Miss Edith Irvine was temporarily librarian until Miss Clara M. Body took the position. She served about four years, and then went to England upon a leave of absence. Miss Frances Wise- man took the work in her absence. In 1905 Mary H. Ames was brought from Lincoln to take charge of the library. In 1909 she was succeeded by Frances Cunningham, and in 1910 the present efficient librarian, Miss Daisy Houck, was elected. For a time her
operation. The incorporators of this street railway, in 1887, were O. A. Abbott, I. R. Alter, Henry A. Koenig, William Hagge, A. H. Baker, O. B. Thompson, and C. W. Scarff This company built up a transportation system which served the people of the community for a decade or so. Especially during the vast assemblages occasioned by the annual reunions of the Grand Army of the Republic was this service of immeasurable value. Its equipment increased until the company at times operated twelve or fifteen cars. The route first started at the Soldiers' Home, turned at the corner where O. B. Thompson.'s residence was located, circled over to Eddy street and came south across the Union Pa- cific tracks to Third street, where it turned east and went through the business section of town to Oak street and thence northeast until Digitized by
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
it reached the Burlington passenger station. Another route turned south at Third and Cleburn, the location of the car barns (pres- ent location of J. A. Woolstenholme resi- dence), ran to Second street, and on out west- ward to the sugar factory, and eastward through the business section. Later a route came in on Koenig street from the west.and north on Locust street, making two circles around which the cars were routed. Even- tually an hourly service was establisehd on the northern route to the Soldiers' Home and southern route toward the sugar factory,
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